Listening for Baby

Joel was used to the sound of sirens, squealing tires, and people's loud voices all through the night. Living in the city, he heard those things all the time. But he wasn't used to the beeping sound he heard now.Turning onto his side in his bed, Joel saw that it was three in the morning. He frowned. It was three, and he had definitely just heard the microwave.Joel got out of bed and crept out to the small kitchen area in the apartment he shared with his mom, stepdad, and newborn brother. He found his mom at the table holding a mug.Mom grimaced. "Did I wake you?" Joel shrugged. "Is Baby Robby awake?"Mom shook her head, smiling as she looked down at the steaming drink in front of her. "Just me."Joel saw the baby monitor on the table and walked over to look at the screen. His new baby brother was asleep in his crib."I was like this when I first brought you home too," Mom said. "Too anxious to sleep because I felt like I needed to be awake to listen for you and watch over you.""He'll cry loudly if he needs you." Joel had witnessed his baby brother doing just that."I know," Mom said. "Deep down, I know that, but I still don't feel comfortable sleeping right now." She stood and put an arm around Joel's shoulders. "It actually makes me think of how God is with us, always watching over us.""He never sleeps," Joel said quietly. "But you need to. Whenever I have trouble sleeping, you tell me that I can rest peacefully because Jesus is with me and I can trust Him to take care of me. You can trust Him to take care of you too--and Baby Robby."Mom chuckled and ruffled Joel's hair. "You're right, sweet boy. I think it's time for us both to get some rest."When Joel returned to his dark bedroom, he stared up toward the ceiling. "You really are like that, aren't You, God? Always up and listening for us?" He smiled. "It feels good to know You're always watching over us."–Emily Acker